Wang Lang
Encyclopedia
Wang Lang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty
and a politician of Cao Wei
during the Three Kingdoms
era of Chinese history
. Through his granddaughter's marriage to Sima Zhao
, he would become great-grandfather of Sima Yan
, who later became the founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty
.
commandery of China, Wang was originally named Yan, but he changed his name into Lang, and began his career as a servant to the Chief of Staff due to his academic proficiency. When his teacher, Yang Si (楊賜) died, he left his post and went back to his home county. Later, he served the Xu Province warlord, Tao Qian and advised Tao to form a general alliance with Dong Zhuo
, who controlled the Han court. Tao Qian then sent an envoy to Chang'an and was granted the title of General Pacifiying the South, and Wang was also made Governor of Kuaiji by the court.
tribe (Shanyue was a tribe that constantly pillaged the Han citizens for living essentials) during his tenure. When Sun Ce
started his Jiangdong campaign, Wang financed the Shanyue leader Yan Baihu
to fight Sun, but Yan and other clan leaders were defeated. However, at the time Liu Yao
of Moling was defeated by Sun, Yan Baihu had became the head of a loose confederation composed of bandits and local officials including Wang, and he again gathered soldiers numbering tens of thousands. Despite opposition from his adviser, Yu Fan, Wang directly joined Yan in military operations against Sun, and were defeated. He then flee on a boat to Dongye. There, he gained the support from the Chief of Houguan (侯官長) and attempted to rebuild his power. His force was strengthened by Zhang Ya (張雅), who was a rebel leader controlling a rather strong army. They succeed in killing the Commandant of Southern Region (南部都尉), Han Yan (韓晏), who was taking command from Sun, but were ultimately defeated by Sun's vassal, He Qi
.
Wang tried to go further south to Jiao Province to recuperate, but was caught up and defeated by Sun. He then conducted a very humble speech to appease Sun, and the later accepted his surrender.
's spy and was asked to join Cao in Xuchang. He initially hesitated to go north, but was convinced by a letter sent by his old friend, Kong Rong
; thus, he journeyed north via water, and arrived Cao's capital city of Xuchang almost a year later. Cao highly valued Wang's talent and appointed him as his advisor. Wang then served Cao Wei
in high positions during the reign of Cao Cao. When Cao Pi
succeed Cao Cao and declared himself emperor, Wang was even made the Minister of Works and the Marquis of Yueping. During Cao Pi's reign, Wang had made several suggestions regarding both military and civilian matters, which Cao Pi partially complied.
When Cao Rui was on the throne, Wang was promoted to the Marquis of Lanling, and earned tax revenue of 2,000 households of farmer tenants. Once, Wang went to Ye city to visit the tomb of Empress Wenzhao and saw the populace was short on material; thus, he wrote to ask the young emperor to cut the cost and labor on building extravagant palaces. Like his father, Cao Rui partly listened to Wang: he applauded Wang's suggestion and transferred him to the Minister Over the Masses (so Wang no longer monitored the construction, but was supposed for drafting the government budget), but continued his luxurious living style.
Wang later focused on academic works and had published several books that were well received at the time. He died in the December 228, and was given the posthumous name of "Marquis Cheng" (成侯), literally meaning Marquis of establishment. He was succeeded by Wang Su
, who would continue to serve Wei.
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
, Wang Lang died at the age of 76 in 228. Despite his age, he led a group of soldiers and set up camp to do battle with Zhuge Liang
. According to the story, Cao Zhen
was defeated by Zhuge Liang. Cao Zhen called for his subordinates to help, and Wang Lang decided to persuade him to surrender (even though Guo Huai
was skeptical about it) and engaged Zhuge Liang in a battle of words, but was soundly defeated, with Zhuge Liang scolding him a dog and a traitor and other nasty words and from the shock of this, he soon died. There is no record of this in history, and instead, it is said that he merely sent a letter to Zhuge Liang recommending that he surrender. The letter, it is said, was ignored.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and a politician of Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
during the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
era of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. Through his granddaughter's marriage to Sima Zhao
Sima Zhao
Sima Zhao was a military general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, he would become great-grandfather of Sima Yan
Emperor Wu of Jìn
Emperor Wu of Jin, , personal name Sima Yan , style name Anshi , was the grandson of Sima Yi and son of Sima Zhao. He became the first emperor of the Jin Dynasty after forcing Cao Huan, last ruler of the state of Cao Wei, to abdicate to him. He reigned from 265 to 290, and after conquering the...
, who later became the founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
.
Early life and career
Originally from the DonghaiDonghai County
Donghai County is a county of Jiangsu province, China. It is under the administration of Lianyungang city.-References:*...
commandery of China, Wang was originally named Yan, but he changed his name into Lang, and began his career as a servant to the Chief of Staff due to his academic proficiency. When his teacher, Yang Si (楊賜) died, he left his post and went back to his home county. Later, he served the Xu Province warlord, Tao Qian and advised Tao to form a general alliance with Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo was a politician and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He seized control of the capital city Luoyang in 189 when it was in a state of turmoil following the death of Emperor Ling and a clash between the eunuch faction and some court officials led by...
, who controlled the Han court. Tao Qian then sent an envoy to Chang'an and was granted the title of General Pacifiying the South, and Wang was also made Governor of Kuaiji by the court.
As a warlord
Wang formed a secret alliance with the ShanyueShanyue
Shanyue was a tribe that was resided in the Yue area of ancient China during Han Dynasty. Since the Southern part of China was not yet controlled by the Han ethnicity , the Shanyue people would performe regular raids against Han citizens to gather living essentials...
tribe (Shanyue was a tribe that constantly pillaged the Han citizens for living essentials) during his tenure. When Sun Ce
Sun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
started his Jiangdong campaign, Wang financed the Shanyue leader Yan Baihu
Yan Baihu
Yan Baihu was a bandit leader active in the Wu region during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history.-The White Tiger among bandits:Baihu was not Yan's real name, but a nickname given to him due to his physical prowess or skin color; thus his name should be translated to "White Tiger Yan"...
to fight Sun, but Yan and other clan leaders were defeated. However, at the time Liu Yao
Liu Yao
Liu Yao , courtesy name Yongming , was the final emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. He became emperor in 318 after most other members of the imperial Liu clan were massacred by Jin Zhun in a coup. However, the empire was soon divided in half, as the general Shi Le declared...
of Moling was defeated by Sun, Yan Baihu had became the head of a loose confederation composed of bandits and local officials including Wang, and he again gathered soldiers numbering tens of thousands. Despite opposition from his adviser, Yu Fan, Wang directly joined Yan in military operations against Sun, and were defeated. He then flee on a boat to Dongye. There, he gained the support from the Chief of Houguan (侯官長) and attempted to rebuild his power. His force was strengthened by Zhang Ya (張雅), who was a rebel leader controlling a rather strong army. They succeed in killing the Commandant of Southern Region (南部都尉), Han Yan (韓晏), who was taking command from Sun, but were ultimately defeated by Sun's vassal, He Qi
He Qi
He Qi , style name Gongmiao , was an official serving under the warlord Sun family of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history....
.
Wang tried to go further south to Jiao Province to recuperate, but was caught up and defeated by Sun. He then conducted a very humble speech to appease Sun, and the later accepted his surrender.
Service under Cao Wei
Soon afterward he entered into a self-imposed retirement from public life, but was contacted by Cao CaoCao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
's spy and was asked to join Cao in Xuchang. He initially hesitated to go north, but was convinced by a letter sent by his old friend, Kong Rong
Kong Rong
Kong Rong was a politician, scholar, and minor warlord of the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also a 20th generation descendant of Kong Qiu . As he was once the chancellor of Beihai Commandery , he was also known as Kong Beihai. He was defeated by Yuan Tan in 196 and escaped to...
; thus, he journeyed north via water, and arrived Cao's capital city of Xuchang almost a year later. Cao highly valued Wang's talent and appointed him as his advisor. Wang then served Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
in high positions during the reign of Cao Cao. When Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
succeed Cao Cao and declared himself emperor, Wang was even made the Minister of Works and the Marquis of Yueping. During Cao Pi's reign, Wang had made several suggestions regarding both military and civilian matters, which Cao Pi partially complied.
When Cao Rui was on the throne, Wang was promoted to the Marquis of Lanling, and earned tax revenue of 2,000 households of farmer tenants. Once, Wang went to Ye city to visit the tomb of Empress Wenzhao and saw the populace was short on material; thus, he wrote to ask the young emperor to cut the cost and labor on building extravagant palaces. Like his father, Cao Rui partly listened to Wang: he applauded Wang's suggestion and transferred him to the Minister Over the Masses (so Wang no longer monitored the construction, but was supposed for drafting the government budget), but continued his luxurious living style.
Late life and death
After Wang's opposition of the palace-building project, he became concerned about his political future. When he noticed Cao Rui had a small harem, he thought of a way to appease the emperor: he wrote to Cao Rui stating that an emperor should have more concubines in order to continue the royal bloodline with more offsprings. This time the emperor agreed to Wang wholeheartedly and started his collection of women, as his concubines and ladies in waiting numbered thousands. Wang's hideous advice had a profound influence: Nine years after Wang's death, Cao Rui even ordered beautiful married women all be formally seized unless their husbands were able to ransom them, and that they would be married to soldiers instead—but that the most beautiful among them would become his concubines. Despite some officials' protestations, this decree was apparently carried out, much to the distress of his people.Wang later focused on academic works and had published several books that were well received at the time. He died in the December 228, and was given the posthumous name of "Marquis Cheng" (成侯), literally meaning Marquis of establishment. He was succeeded by Wang Su
Wang Su
Wang Su was the son of the Cao Wei official Wang Lang during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. When Guanqiu Jian started a rebellion in Shouchun, Wang advised Sima Shi to lower the rebels' morale by treating their families with respect...
, who would continue to serve Wei.
Descendants
- Wang SuWang SuWang Su was the son of the Cao Wei official Wang Lang during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. When Guanqiu Jian started a rebellion in Shouchun, Wang advised Sima Shi to lower the rebels' morale by treating their families with respect...
, son - Wang YuanjiEmpress Dowager Wang YuanjiWang Yuanji , formally Empress Wenming was an empress dowager during the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history. She was the wife of Sima Zhao, regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period...
, granddaughter, married Sima ZhaoSima ZhaoSima Zhao was a military general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
In fiction
In Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
, Wang Lang died at the age of 76 in 228. Despite his age, he led a group of soldiers and set up camp to do battle with Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
. According to the story, Cao Zhen
Cao Zhen
Cao Zhen was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was also a distant nephew of Cao Cao, though the latter treated him like a son. Cao Zhen participated in many...
was defeated by Zhuge Liang. Cao Zhen called for his subordinates to help, and Wang Lang decided to persuade him to surrender (even though Guo Huai
Guo Huai
Guo Huai , style name Boji , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He started his career during the late Han Dynasty under the warlord Cao Cao. During Cao Pi's reign, Guo rose up the ranks and became a grand marshal under Sima Yi...
was skeptical about it) and engaged Zhuge Liang in a battle of words, but was soundly defeated, with Zhuge Liang scolding him a dog and a traitor and other nasty words and from the shock of this, he soon died. There is no record of this in history, and instead, it is said that he merely sent a letter to Zhuge Liang recommending that he surrender. The letter, it is said, was ignored.